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Horseshoe- "No. 234,717. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

NA PETERS, PHOTD-LITMOGRAHEH. WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE..

JOHN N. NAVIN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,71*?, datedNovember 23, 1880.

Application led July 12, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN N. NAVIN, ofIndianapolis, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement inHorseshoes, of which the following is a specification. The objects of myinvention are, first, to provide a shoe for horses which can be sofastened to the foot as to allow free play to the natural elasticity ofthe walls of the hoof, and thus prevent disease of the foot; second, toa'ord a means of curing or relieving the disease known as contractedhoof77 by spreading the walls of the hoof after the shoe has been placedin position and retaining them in the desired position 5 third, toprovide a convenient means for securing pads or other appliances incontact with the frog or under side of the foot. I attain these object-sby the use of the shoe illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figures l and 2 are plans; Fig. 3, a side elevation, and Fig. 4 arear elevation.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

a isa shoe, of the usual form, in the upper side of which is formed adovetailed recess, b, into which is nicely tted a separate removablepiece, c, thus completing the contour of an ordinary shoe. The removablepiece c is provided with nail-holes, as is also the other side of theshoe, in the usual manner.

(l d are upward-projecting lugs, formed upon or welded to the uppersurface of the shoe at the heel, and designed to fill loosely the spacebetween the walls of the hoof when the shoe is rst secured to the foot.A portion ofthe shoe is cut away at the toe on the inner edge, at e, forthe purpose ot' making the shoe weaker at that point, so that when forceis applied between the lugs d d. to spread that portion of the shoeapart it will bend at that point, c, and not at .any intermediate point,the object of this being to prevent any cramping or binding of theremovable piece c in its recess, and also to secure an equable andproper spreading of the hoof in a case ot' diseased hoof, as hereinafterexplained.

For the purpose of securing to the under side of the foot rubber pads orother appliances used in the treatment of diseased feet, the lugs d dare provided with holes f. By passing a small rod or wire through theselugs and the pad or other appliance before the shoe is secured to thefoot the pad when applied is securely held in place. v

My improved shoe is applied and operates in the following manner: Theshoe being tted to the foot in the usual manner, the position of theremovable piece c is marked upon the hoof. It is then removed from itsrecess and nailed to the foot in its proper position. The shoe is thenslipped upon the piece c, the dovetailed forni of which retains thatside of the shoe in place, and the other side is then nailed in theusual manner.

When the horse rests upon the foot or strikes a violent blow, as inrunning, the piece c slides in its dovetailed recess, and allows thenatural elasticity ot' the walls ot' the hoot' to operate, thuspreventing disease.

lt' the foot is already in a diseased conditionfrom wearing a stift',unyielding shoe, and has become contracted, I now apply a suitable leverbetween the lugs d d and spread the shoe, thus bending it at e andspreading,` it permanently, mostly at the heel, diminishing gradually tothe toe, and holding the Walls oi' the hoof apart. This being done withcare and good judgment leaves the softer portions of the foot free toregain their normal condition and relieves the disease.

I claim as my inventionl. A horseshoe provided with the removabledovetailed piece c, fitting in the recess b, and adapted to beseparately secured to the foot and to retain the shoe against the foot,at the same time allowing a sliding motion thereon, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A horseshoe consisting oi' the principal portion a, removable piecec, and provided with the lugs d d and weakened portion c, substantiallyas set forth.

JOHN N. NAVIN, V. S.

Witnesses CHAs. MAGUIEE, Gr. H. FEE.

